Specializing in Visas for Professionals Martin J Lawler Post Street, Suite 475 San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: 415-391-2010 www.aboutvisas.com New Strategies for New Times • • • • Lack of H-1B Visa Numbers USCIS Restrictive Attitude Limited Immigrant Visa Numbers Recession Economy Martin J Lawler Lawle Solutions • Advanced Planning • Be Visa Smart • Get a MS Degree Martin J Lawler Practical Training (OPT) • • • • One Year Work Permit Apply Before Graduation Tax Exempt Bridge to H-1B or Other Visas Martin J Lawler Type of Employment? • Paid Employment – Part and full time – Employer + 1099 – Self-employment • Unpaid Employment is Okay • For Work Related to Degree Martin J Lawler Document Work is Degree Related • Letter(s) From Manager or HR – Job duties – Dates – How degree is related to work Martin J Lawler Unemployment • Only Up to 90 Days • Violation Causes Loss of Status and SEVIS Termination! • Remember Volunteer Work is Okay Martin J Lawler Reporting Requirements • DSO Must be Notified Within 10 Days – Address change – Name change – Unemployment Martin J Lawler STEM • Post Completion OPT For BS, MS or Ph.D in: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Computer Science Applications, Actuarial Science, Engineering Technologies, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Math & Statistics, Military Technologies, Physical Sciences, Science Technologies, Medical Scientists, & Chemical Engineering Martin J Lawler STEM OPT • 17 Month OPT Extension – 29 Months in All • Employer Must Register in “E-Verify” Martin J Lawler Treaty Countries for E-1 and E-2 Visas – Albania – Argentina – Armenia – Australia – Austria – Azerbaijan – Bahrain – Bangladesh – Belgium – Bolivia – Bosnia & Herzegovina – Brunei – Bulgaria – Cameroon – Canada – Chile – China (Taiwan) – Colombia – Congo (Brazzaville) – Congo (Kinshasa) – Costa Rica – Croatia – Czech Republic – Denmark – Ecuador – Egypt – Estonia – Ethiopia – Finland – France – Georgia – Germany – Greece – Grenada – Honduras – Iran – Ireland – Israel – Italy Martin J Lawler – Jamaica – Japan – Jordan – Kazakhstan – Korea (South) – Kosovo – Latvia – Liberia – Lithuania – Luxembourg – Macedonia – Mexico – Moldova – Mongolia – Montenegro – Morocco – Netherlands – Norway – Oman – Pakistan – Panama – Paraguay – Philippines – Poland – Romania – Serbia – Senegal – Singapore – Slovak Republic – Slovenia – Spain – Sri Lanka – Suriname – Sweden – Switzerland – Thailand – Togo – Trinidad & Tobago – Tunisia – Turkey – Ukraine – United Kingdom – Yugoslavia Martin J Lawl L-1 Multi-National Organization • Executive/Manager (7 yrs) • Specialized Knowledge (5 yrs) • Year Overseas Work With Multinational Organization • Year Visa For Start-up Company • Problem For Small Companies Martin J Lawle P-1 Athlete or Entertainer in Group • • • • For Competitions or Performers Up to Years for Athletes Exceptional International Recognition Martin J Lawle Family Based Permanent Resident/Green Card • • • • • Marriage to a U.S Citizen, 3-8 months Marriage to Green Card Holder, years Petition by Parents, 5+ years Petition by Sibling, 15 years 2-Step Process – Visa petition to prove relationship – Green card application via CIS/INS office or American Consul in home country Martin J Lawle Employment Based Procedure Green Card Preference • Extraordinary Ability • Outstanding Researcher • Multinational Co Manager MS or BS +5 Professional, Specialist, Other workers Religious workers Investors PERM • Labor Certification • Prove worker shortage I-140 Visa Petition • Prove ability to pay wage • Edu, work experience I-360 Must have a current priority date for a visa number Adjustment of status in U.S Prove Admissibility Green Card Immigrant visa at American Consul in home country I-526 Labor Certification “PERM” • • • • • Employer Sponsor Prevailing Wage Employee Must Have Education + Work Experience Recruiting to Prove Worker Shortage – Year Process Martin J Lawler EB-5 Investors • $500,000 in a Rural or High Unemployment Area + 10 Jobs • $1 Million Other Areas • Create 10 Jobs • “Regional Center” — Limited Partnership – Downstream employment creation – Quick processing — usually < year Martin J Lawle EB-5 Investors • Gifted Funds • Loans • Tracing Funds From Legal Source Martin J Lawle EB-5 Case Study • Ms C From Indonesia Graduated From College in the U.S and had an H-1B Visa – Received $500,000 gift from father – Invested in a regional center – EB-5 petition approved a few months later – Approval of conditional permanent resident status Martin J Lawle Immigration Service Centers • Process Temporary Visas, Employment & Some Family-based Permanent Residence Applications – California – Vermont – Nebraska – Texas Temporary – Missouri – Processes some familyVisas cases— i.e., H-1B • Some Cases Are Interviewed at Local District Offices Green Cards — I-140 Martin J Lawler Summary • • • • • Plan Ahead for Limited Visa Numbers Develop a Green Card Plan Get an MS Degree Get Good Advice Ask Questions Martin J Lawle Martin J Lawler Post Street, Suite 475 San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: 415-391-2010 Email: mlawler@aboutvisas.com www.aboutvisas.com See CNBC interview of Martin Lawler and story on EB-5 investor visas at http://classic.cnbc.com/id/37357190 See Wall Street Journal op-ed article by Martin Lawler regarding H-1B visas at http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424 052702303647204579544362260141496 Professionals: A Matter of Degree (Now in its 5th Edition) Listed in Best Lawyers In America Copyright All rights reserved Property of Lawler & Lawler Martin J Lawler ... Authorization Grace Period H-1B #s available for FY16 Practical Training Issued H-1B #s active FY17 H1B #s Available Practical training expires Grace period expires FY17 H-1B #s active FY = Government